WO2003056108A1

WO2003056108A1 - A device for trapping silt

Info

Publication number: WO2003056108A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/001742
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Fox
Original assignee: Bushwater Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-12-21
Filing date: 2002-12-20
Publication date: 2003-07-10
Also published as: AUPR972501A0

Abstract

A device for trapping silt comprising a collector for collecting silt, a support frame for supporting the collector and pivot means connecting the connector to the support whereby the collector is able to pivot with respect to the support to assist with removal of silt when the device is lifted.

Description

A DEVICE FOR TRAPPING SILT FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to waste water management systems particularly for waste water such as storm water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storm water drainage systems although allowing effective run off of rain water into natural water causeways, do not keep out unwanted material unless special filtering devices are installed. One such filtering device is a silt trap which has the objective of preventing or at least limiting the amount of silt which flows into natural causeways. Build up of silt can be a major problem with blocking drains and causing flash flooding.

SUI-MARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an alternative type of device for trapping silt comprising a collector for collecting silt, a support frame for supporting the collector and pivot means connecting the connector to the support whereby the collector is able to pivot with respect to the support to assist with removal of silt when the device is lifted.

Preferably the support includes lifting means which is adapted to be lifted to allow the device to be removed from a catch pit .

The lifting means may comprise one or more lifting portions.

Preferably the support frame comprises a pair of side wall portions connected together by at least one interconnecting member.

The side wall portions may comprise one or more side wall members such as elongate metal plates.

It is preferred that the side wall portions are substantially parallel and enclose the collector therebetween.

The side wall portions are preferably oriented vertically.

The at least one interconnecting member may comprise two substantially horizontal bars.

The lifting means may comprise a pair of elongate members extending between the side wall portions.

The elongate members preferably extend between upper ends of the side wall portions.

The lifting means may comprise support portions extending inwardly from an inside surface of each side wall portion.

Preferably the collector comprises a tray extending between each side wall.

According to one embodiment the lifting means is the at least one interconnecting member. The tray preferably has a larger back wall than front wall.

The back wall may include a filter which filters silt.

The pivot means preferably comprises pivots which connect side walls of the tray to the side wall portions of the frame.

Preferably the pivots are located towards the rear of the device.

The device preferably includes an urging means for urging the tray to a collecting position.

The tray may be pivotable between a collecting position and an emptying position.

The device may include a locking means for preventing the tray from pivoting to the emptying position.

It is preferred that the urging means comprises a pivoting lever.

The pivoting lever may pivot with respect to a front portion of each side wall portion. Each side wall portion may comprise a side pivot means connected to the urging means .

Preferably the side pivot means comprises a hinge portion adapted to co-act with a complimentary hinge portion of the urging means.

Preferably the side wall hinge portion comprises a curved member having part of its peripheral surface co- acting with an edge surface of the urging means.

The urging means may comprise an angled member having a curved inner corner portion which is adapted to co-act with a complimentary surface of the side wall hinge portion. The side wall hinge portion preferably comprises a downwardly extending member with a bulbous end portion.

The bulbous end portion may have a peripheral curved surface.

Preferably the bulbous end portion extends forwardly.

It is preferred that the angled member comprises first and second upright portions spaced apart and extending in generally the same direction from an elbow portion. Preferably the upright portions diverge slightly from the elbow portion.

The elbow portion is preferably located at a lower end of the device .

Preferably the elbow portion is adapted to fit over the bulbous end portion of one of the side wall portions.

It is preferred that the curved inner corner portion comprises the elbow section.

Preferably the side wall hinge portion comprises an elongate downwardly extending member with the bulbous portion located at its lower end.

Preferably the downwardly extending portion and bulbous end portion fit between the space located between the upright portions of the angle member. The second portion is preferably adapted to urge the device to an engaging position where the urging means engages a complimentary portion of the tray and keeps the tray in the collecting position.

The device includes a means comprising complimentary engaging portions of the urging means and tray. It is preferred that the locking means comprises a male portion on either one of the urging means or the tray and a female portion on the other one of the urging means or tray.

Preferably the locking means has a male portion comprising a stop located on the tray and the female portion comprises a complimentary slot in the urging means .

The slot is preferably formed in a front section of the urging means . Each of the first portions of the urging means are preferably interconnected by an elongate member.

It is preferred that the elongate member extends between upper ends ^' of the first portions.

The elongate member is preferably located above the level of the elongate members of the side wall portions, when the device is in a collecting position.

The elbow portion of each urging member preferably faces forwardly of the device.

The second portion may include a spring. Alternatively the second portion comprises a weighted portion which urges part of the locking means to engage with the tray part of the locking means .

Preferably the locking means comprises complimentary locking parts of the urging means and the collector.

The words "comprising, having, including" should be interpreted in an inclusive sense, meaning that additional features may also be added. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front angled view of a silt tray according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a top view of the tray shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows the tray in Figure 1 in an emptying position; and

Figure 4 shows the silt tray device shown in Figure 1 including silt therein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As shown in Figure 1 the device consists of a tray 11 with a flat base 12, a short front wall 13 and a high back wall 14. Each side wall 15, 16 inclines upwardly from the front wall 13 to the back wall 14. The side walls 15, 16 of the tray 11 are located between opposing side frame members 17, 18. Each side frame member 17, 18 is substantially identical and consists of a metal plate having two downwardly extending legs 19, 20 defining a gradually widening slot 21. Front leg 19 curves forwardly at its lower end into a rounded lug portion 22.

Rearward leg 20 has a through hole (not shown) at its lower end and a pivot pin 23 located therethrough, which also connects through a hole in the side wall 16 of tray 11.

Each of the side walls 17, 18 are connected together at their upper front and rear corners 24, 25 by horizontal cross-bars 26, 27.

Because the tray 11 is pivotally connected to the side walls 17, 18 it requires a locking means in order to prevent it from tilting downwardly. This locking mechanism consists of a pair of specially designed locking levers 28, 29. Each lever 28, 29 is split into upwardly extending forward and rear portions 30, 31 which meet together at their lower ends in a rounded elbow section 32.

The rounded elbow section 32 has an inner edge face 33 which is curved and is supported on a complimentary curved face 34 of the lug portion 22. The engagement between the surfaces 33 and 34 allows a hinge like movement between the levers 28, 29 and the corresponding lug portions 22.

The rear portion 31 consists of a weighted wide curved metal section, which because of its weight tends to want to move in a clockwise direction (according to the orientation shown in Figure 1) . At its forward most edge where it runs into the elbow section 32, it is provided with a small slot 35. This slot 35 engages with a locking pin 36 which extends outwardly from the side walls 15, 16 of the tray 11.

The upper end of the lever 30 extends into a right angle section 37 which curves around a front top corner section 38 of side wall 17, 18. Each lever 28, 29 is connected at top ends 39, 40 of lever 37 by a horizontal cross bar 42.

The cross bar 42 is a rod which is higher in position than each of the rods 26, 27.

It is also noted that the rear lever portion 31 fits into the slot 21.

The back wall 14 of the tray is also provided with a removable filter 44. In use the silt tray device 10 is designed so that forklift tines are able to enter from the front of the device 10 and fit underneath both rods 26, 27. The silt tray device 10 can then be lifted and dropped into a concrete catch pit so that the tray 11 rests in a generally horizontal disposition.

When the tray 11 is full of silt as shown in Figure 4 it is able to be lifted out of the concrete pit again by tines of a forklift. The device 10 is then moved to a location where the silt can be emptied from the tray 11. This is achieved by connecting a line to the cross bar 42 and pulling on the line so that the slot 35 disengages from the pin 36. The weight of silt in the tray 11 forces the tray to pivot downwardly at its front end to a position as shown in Figure 3. When the silt has been emptied from the tray 11 the device can be placed on a ground surface so that the tray 11 moves back to its horizontal disposition.

The forwardly angled surface 43 of rear lever 31 leads to the lower part of slot 35 and allows locking pin 36 to ride along the edge of this surface and drop into the slot 35. This is possible because the weight of rear lever 31 urges the recess to move in a clockwise direction and likewise the front lever portion 30 to move into contact with the front face edge 43 of side wall 17, 18. The pin 36 is then retained within the recess 35 until the rod 32 is pulled downwardly in a counter clockwise direction against the force generated by the weight of rear lever 31.

In use the silt tray device allows entry of run off water through its open front end and then through the filter 43. Excess water flows over the top of the back wall. When silt has deposited to cover the top of the filter it is then time to remove the silt tray device and empty the silt tray 11.

It is noted that because the level of rod 42 is above that of rods 26 and 27 it is possible to disengage the slot 35 from the pin 36 by moving the road 42 anticlockwise while the tines of a forklift support rods 26 and 27. Therefore the contents of the tray 11 can be emptied while the silt tray 10 is supported.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with a lever system for locking the tray 11 in a horizontal disposition, the present invention also contemplates other locking systems such as locking pins etc .

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.

The device shown in Figure 1 may also incorporate a filter extending between the top ends of the side frame member 17 and 18. The filter may be in the form of a mesh which is able to be pivoted upwardly. The filter is designed to keep out larger material such as grass and other vegetation.

The filter may be pivotally connected to rearward portions of the side frame member 17 and 18 and may fit over the top of the rods 26 and 27. It is noted that this filter will be in addition to the silt filter located at the rear of the tray 11.

Claims

1. A device for trapping silt comprising a collector for collecting silt, a support frame for supporting the collector and pivot means connecting the connector to the support whereby the collector is able to pivot with respect to the support to assist with removal of silt when the device is lifted.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support frame includes lifting means which is adapted to be lifted to allow the device to be removed from a catch pit.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the lifting means comprises at least one lifting portion.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support frame comprises a pair of side wall portions connected together by an interconnecting member.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the side wall portions comprise at least one side wall member. 6. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the side wall portions are substantially parallel and enclose the collector therebetween.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the side wall portions are oriented vertically. 8. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one interconnecting member comprises two substantially horizontal bars .

9. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lifting means comprises a pair of elongate members extending between the side wall portions.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the elongate members extend between upper ends of the side wall portions.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the lifting means comprises support portions extending inwardly from an inside surface of each side wall portion.

12. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the collector comprises a tray extending between each side wall portion.

13. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lifting means includes the at least one interconnecting member.

14. The device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the tray has a larger back wall than front wall.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the back wall includes a filter for filtering silt. 16. The device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the pivot means comprises pivots which connect side walls of the tray to the side wall portions.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the pivots are located towards the rear of the device. 18. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the tray is pivotable between a collecting position and an emptying position.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18 including an urging means for urging the tray to the collecting position.

20. The device as claimed in claim 19 including a locking means for preventing the tray from pivoting to the emptying position.

21. The device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the urging means comprises a pivoting lever.

22. The device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the pivoting lever pivots with respect to a front portion of each side wall portion.

23. The device as claimed in claim 22 wherein each side wall portion comprises a side pivot means connected to the urging means .

24. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the side pivot means comprises a hinge portion adapted to coact with a complimentary hinge portion of the urging means .

25. The device as claimed in claim 24 wherein the side wall hinge portion comprises a curved member having part of its peripheral surface coacting with an edge surface of the urging means .

26. The device as claimed in claim 25 wherein the urging means comprises an angled member having a curved inner corner portion which is adapted to coact with a complimentary surface of the side wall hinge portion.

27. The device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the side wall hinge portion comprises a downwardly extending member with a bulbous end portion. 28. The device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the bulbous end portion has a peripheral curved surface.

29. The device as claimed in claim 28 wherein the bulbous end portion extends forwardly.

30. The device as claimed in claim 29 wherein the angled member comprises first and second upright portions extending in generally the same direction from an enlarged bottom elbow section.

31. The device as claimed in claim 30 wherein the side wall hinge portion fits into the space between the upright first and second portions.

32. The device as claimed in claim 31 wherein the second portion is adapted to urge the device to an engaging position where the urging means engages with a complimentary portion of the tray to keep the tray in the collecting position.

33. The device as claimed in claim 32 including a locking means comprising complimentary engaging portions of the urging means and tray.

34. The device as claimed in claim 33 wherein the locking means comprises at least one male portion on either one of the urging means or the tray and at least one complimentary female portion on the other one of the urging means or tray.

35. The device as claimed in claim 34 wherein the locking means has a male portion comprising a stop location on the tray and the female portion comprises a complimentary slot in the urging means.

37. The device as claimed in claim 36 wherein the slot is formed in a front section of the urging means,

38. The device as claimed in claim 37 wherein the slot is formed in a front section of each elbow section of the urging means .